Last January I started a new tradition to pick a word that would represent my goals and focus for the year. As I was starting a new business and getting deeper into my newly chosen profession, it seemed fitting to choose the word GROWTH.

GROWTH

It was a fast and furious year and here are some of the things I did in the name of growth: enrolled in Coach U’s Executive Coach Training Program and took three classes at a time and learned so much about being a great executive coach. I hired fantastic mentor coaches who help me improve my coaching skills and market my business. I gave time as a volunteer mentor at Menttium™ and the Executive’s Club of Chicago and I continue to work with highly talented leaders on their journey to achieve leadership greatness. I traveled to beautiful Manitou Springs, Colorado and became certified in leading executive retreats. While there, I also discovered and conquered the Manitou Incline—a 3.7-mile trail with a climb of 2,000 vertical feet. The rewards of the view were well worth the difficult climb! (Did I mention I am afraid of heights?!) I also trained for and competed in a half marathon, a triathlon, and two Tough Mudder races.

Traveling to London to gain certification as a Gallup Strengths coach was a highlight. Some of the benefits of doing this training in London were meeting amazing coaches from all over the world, spending time with good friends, and visiting Stonehenge, Bath, and Windsor Castle. The pinnacle of the trip was celebrating Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s 90th Birthday at the Trooping of the Colour Parade.

With my coach training completed and over 150 coaching hours logged, I met all qualifications to achieve accreditation from the International Coach Federation in early fall. Amidst all of this, I started up Aspiration Catalyst™ and worked with 30+ amazing clients to develop their strengths, improve their leadership skills, and create sustainable revenue growth in their businesses. My year of growth was enriching, exhilarating, rewarding, exhausting and ultimately highly successful. I am so grateful to the many people who helped me over the past year—you know who you are---and I am so appreciative of you. Growth in 2016 = Mission Accomplished!

INTENTIONAL

So now onto this year. My word this year is INTENTIONAL. My intentions this year are to continue to learn, coach, consult, speak, and write to further develop myself, provide high value to my clients, and grow my business. I will empower my clients to up their game and live their life’s purpose. The highly successful people and teams I am coaching are achieving higher levels of success through my listening, questioning, teaching, helping them increase integrity, and driving relentless accountability and progress on goals. My clients and their businesses are thriving! I am living a comfortable, fulfilling and fun filled life while providing for my family. Our relationships with each other are rich and empowering. My friends and family are a high priority and I create time and space to enjoy our time together. I provide support personally and monetarily to the causes I am passionate about. I am living a healthy life filled with exercise, quality eating, and regular timespent in nature. I am intentional on the choices I make and devote my time each day to achieving my highest priorities.

Tell me about your year ahead. What would make it your best year? What word best represents what you will pursue in 2017 and achieve success in by year end? Pick your word and see if it helps you stay focused in the year ahead. Let me know what your word is and I’ll check in with you from time to time to see how you are progressing.